Swainsona


Swainsona is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which is endemic to Australia.
A member of the family Fabaceae, it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera Montigena, Clianthus, and Carmichaelia.
Swainsona is named after English botanist Isaac Swainson.
A few species are known to produce swainsonine, a phytotoxin harmful to livestock. In Australia, animals intoxicated with swainsonine are said to be pea struck.
;Selected species